Just Jot It January

This Time Last Week

~ Colline ~ 7 Comments

Sun. Sand. Sea.

This time last week my family and I were on a beach vacation in the Dominican Republic. For the last few years now, my husband has wanted to spend the Christmas period in the sun at a resort. This year we decided to agree with his wish and chose to go to the hotel we had chosen to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

I loved being back at the beach. I missed the warm sand and roaring sea so much yesterday as I was walking the cold, streets of the city yesterday.

What were you doing this time last week?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2020

(This post is linked to Linda Hill’s #JustJotJan challenge.)

Journaling in the New Year

~ Colline ~ 23 Comments

One of the things I plan to do in the New Year is to spend some time with my daughters each week preparing our bullet journals. I have tried bullet journaling for one month now and I find that I enjoy the creativity of it. The bonus, for me, is that I get to spend time with my girls. Now that they are older, we no longer work around the table in the afternoons. Doing this activity with them remedies that and I get to have a chance to chat with them on what is happening in their personal lives.

Today on the first day of 2020, we spent time setting up our journals for the month. It was a perfect way to bring in the New Year.

What did you do (or plan to do) on the first day of January?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 20120

(This post is linked to Linda Hill’s #JustJotJan challenge.)

Companionship

~ Colline ~ 18 Comments

We were made to be social.

To live in a community,

To support one another:

Emotionally, spiritually, physically.

Yet we go our own way.

Solitary.

Alone.

Our thoughts, our hopes, our dreams

Our own. .

We were made to be social.

Instead we suffer in the quiet of our own home,

Longing for a connection to others,

spiralling into the abyss of depression,

Our thoughts pushing us over the edge.

We were made to be social.

To love one another, to laugh, to hug,

To be part of a community.

Surrounded by others,

We are one entity awash in the sea of humanity

Seeking cohesion.

We were made to be social

And in being so will be able to heal ourselves.

(I wrote this thinking how, in a large city, we are surrounded by people and yet are so alone. We are living in an era where depression is prevalent and yet, I believe, it would not be so if people were not so alone and had the companionship of others). 

Are you social? In what ways do you spend time with others?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2019

(This post is linked to Linda G. Hill’s Just Jot It January challenge. The prompt Companioship)

A Reading Reflection

~ Colline ~ 13 Comments

Last year in January, I set my reading goal at 75 books thinking that it was a fair reflection of the number of books I read. I was surprised that by the end of the year I had read 94 books (this excludes the reading that I do for work). I found the summary on Goodreads to be interesting.

My longest book was a Stephen King novel, the shortest one I had received to review.

My average rating for books is 4 as I have learned to choose my reading material well. I know what I enjoy reading and I carefully read the synopsis of novels that I pick up.

I have read some wonderful books this year by authors that were unknown to me. Three books stood out for me during 2018: The Dutch Wife by Ellen Keith (historical), Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin (contemporary), and The Black Witch by Laurie Forest. (fantasy). I loved the fantasy novel so much that I read the second in the saga and am now eagerly waiting for the third. (If you want to read my reviews, click on the titles of the books).

I enjoyed my reading journey during 2018 and look forward to discovering more authors and stories during 2019.

What was your reading journey like during 2018?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2019

(This post is linked to Linda G. Hill’s  Just Jot It January challenge. The prompt is reflection .)

 

Art and Math Combination

~ Colline ~ 15 Comments

I am always looking for ways in which to make my lessons interesting and when my colleague came up with an idea to combine Math and Art, I knew that I was on board. Our aim was to test the children to see their understanding of symmetry. Incorporating the winter theme as well as their knowledge of lines for visual arts, we asked them to design the patterns of a mitten. The children were then expected to draw the symmetry of their design on the second mitten.

I was happy with the creations of the children as I am clearly able to see their understanding of symmetry. Their designs will definitely help me with writing their report cards this week.

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2019

(This post is linked to Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday and Just Jot It January challenge. The prompt art.)

A Master

~ Colline ~ 2 Comments

“The Master is in the house!”

Stepping into the room, Fran looked across the room filled with the buzz of her colleagues. She did not appreciate the exaggerated introduction by Coburn as she knew he did not support her success. She had worked hard at this project and had taken a great leap of faith with the direction she had taken the company. Yes, she was good at what she did – but then so were many others. What separated her from the pack was her willingness to take risks, even at personal cost. It was these risks that had led to the jealousy she felt emanating from the room.

“Thank you Coburn.

Afternoon everyone. I will now detail the next step in the process to reverse the deterioration of the planet’s energy forms.”

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2019

(This post is linked to Linda G. Hill’s Just Jot It January challenge. The prompt for today is master.)

Reflections and Goals

~ Colline ~ 20 Comments

Another year has gone by, and it seems to have passed by so quickly. Reflecting on my 2018 goals, I see that I have achieved them.

My first aim was to add another exercise class to my repertoire so that I could exercise more time per week. I tried out a number of classes: Body Attack (not for me – too much running), Body Pump (the excess squats prevented me from enjoying my Zumba classes due to muscle soreness), Body Combat (a person gets tired of kicking!), Shab’am (I have grown to love this class even though a lot of the choreography is challenging), and Body Flow (I am currently giving it a try). My exercise routine has been good in the past year and I am looking to continuing with it.

I haven’t lost significant weight during 2018. In order to do so, I think I will need to consistently give up sugar and bread. These things will be hard for me as I enjoy eating a chocolate or cookie after dinner, and nothing tastes as good as toasted bread after an afternoon workout class! I will see how it goes – I am not one for counting calories and being on a strict food restriction diet.

Today I have been blogging for seven years. Unbelievable. This is a New Year’s resolution that I have kept up for this length of time. What I began doing this year is posting reviews of the books I read up on my blog and it has been an interesting way to keep track of the books I read. I also hope that I have helped readers decide on which novels to pick up at the book store or library. I did not write as much as I wanted to during 2018 and I am hoping to get back to writing creatively in the New Year. I can try and see how it goes. Later today I am going to work on a schedule to include some creative writing. Somehow I need to find time and a way to block out the distraction of people around me in order to focus on the words flowing from my fingers.

The highlight of 2018 was our vacation to Paris. I loved seeing Paris again, and introducing my family to some well-loved sights. I enjoyed Monet’s water lily murals once again, and strolled through the gardens of Versailles. I loved walking down the Champs Elysees and noting the changes. I enjoyed speaking French in a Francophone environment and hearing the language all around me. The vacation to Paris was a unexpected decision by my family – one that we all enjoyed.

My goals for 2019?

  • To continue exercising, and to try to cut down on my bread and sugar intake.
  • To do a little more creative writing.
  • To continue reading and reviewing my books.
  • To enjoy moments with my family.
  • To continue doing my best at my work.

My goals are not big ones, but instead are a continuation of what I am currently working on.

What are your goals and reflections?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2019

(This post is linked to Linda G. Hill’s Just Jot It January challenge. The prompt for today is to write anything we wish.)